Building record 14989 - Penketh Tavern, Greystone Road, Warrington

<1> Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture Ltd., 2018, Penketh Tavern, Greystone Road, Warrington: Heritage Statement, R4337 (Client Report). SCH8744.

A heritage assessment was produced in 2018 for the former Penketh Tavern, Greystone Road, Warrington, in advance of proposed demolition and redevelopment of the site for residential purposes. The Penketh Tavern is a locally listed building, listed under its previous name of the 'Penketh and Sankey British Legion'. The heritage assessment comprised a map regression exercise, commentary on historic photographs, a visual inspection and photographic record (11th September 2018), also a documentary record. It concludes that although the building is of low evidential, historic and aesthetic value, it is of communal significance.

The Penketh Tavern was originally built for the Harrison-Bolton family in 1889 as a private dwelling named “Heatherlea”, perhaps in reference to the formerly adjacent heathland. In the 1905 Trade Directory the occupants are listed as a George and Miss Bolton. The 1907 Ordnance Survey map suggests changes were made around this time including the addition of the Billiards Room. In 1924 the house was sold to the Broadbent family, prominent local retailers, and re-named as “Maryvale”, but the name was returned to “Heatherlea” by the 1930s. In 1929 the Broadbent family purchased the adjacent stables and coach house, later demolished, from a neighbouring nursery. Although a named architect for “Heatherlea” has not been recorded, built-in furniture within the house was fabricated and supplied by Garnetts Cabinet Works, based in Warrington. Further changes to the building in the c. 1920s, suggested by map regression evidence and stylistic analysis of the surviving building and photographs, appear to have included the addition of a glazed porch and conservatory, later lost to the development of the Sports Bar, and possible alterations or reconfiguration of the north and east elevations.

During 1952, after considering building a branch in the area but failing to obtain a suitable location, the British Legion instead decided to purchase “Heatherlea” and convert the former house for use as a local club. The site was only a short distance from the temporary hut which the local British Legion were already meeting in at the time. The British Legion paid £6000 to purchase the site.

The principal elevation of the Penketh Tavern faces Greystone Road. There is a double height bay structure to the north-west corner and a single height bay adjacent to the south, with replaced window units. The north and east elevations are largely plain with windows boarded at the time of the present report, although the east elevation includes a first-floor oriel bay window structure suspended on timber posts. The south elevation is largely concealed by the Sports Bar, however the bay window and door accessing the garden from the Billiards Room can be seen.

The historic elevations of the c. 1880s house are entirely completed in traditional red brickwork, using solid masonry construction. Roof coverings are in slate, both of which are typical for the region and the time period. There are a small number of decorative details such as ogee brick and pressed brick stringcourses and terracotta brattishing to the roofline ridges. Within the principal roof there is a small decorative timber gablet structure with slate roofing and terracotta brattishing. Nearby there is a singe brick-built chimney with a decorative brickwork dentil cornice, the chimney pot has been subsequently replaced.

To the south of the original house, and attached to it, is the c. 1980s Sports Bar which is of brickwork construction with partial render and timber cladding, and extensive windows, boarded at the time of the present report. The structure has a flat roof. To the west of the buildings there is a modern access ramp dating from 1997 which leads to the principal entrance doors which are inserted into a brick re-facing of this part of the original ground floor build, contemporary with the Sports Bar. No historic features survive within the grounds and curtilage.